Sorry if this is a repeat post...

I just finished Wilton Course 1 tonight (picture of cake is in my pics) and next week, I start Course 2. Any tips, suggestions, products you think I could use (not already in kit) or any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

I always took a cardboard box lid to classes with me, to carry my flowers home in. It was a big help! Also I always carefully read the lesson plans well before the class and of course...practice, practice, practice!

bumping myself...are we supposed to bring a cake to the first class...the book doesn't say.

no cakes required in Course 2 until the final night. You are off the hook for this go round. You may want to take an empty egg carton to class when you start doing the royal icing flowers so that you can carry them home safely, to me they're the perfect size for the flowers.

If, only IF, you have a cake dummy you may want to take it to the first class. You should have been instructed to have some buttercream with you to practice more borders, I believe. The cake dummy helped me alot with the practice because I got the feel for it on a cake and not just the board.

Good luck and have fun!

I took a photo box to class with me every night because it's the perfect size to fit your flower formers in and keeps your flowers safe from the store to the car in case of rain, wind, ect. Also, keep your extra icing from class and take home to make more flowers. The practice is great and you have more to choose from for your final cake!

Ditto what other posters have recommended about bringing something to carry your flowers home in and what DianaMarie said about using your extra icing to continue making flowers at home. Course II teaches you SO many flowers that I'd definitely recommend practicing at home if you can. Also, each week as we learned our new flowers, my instructor would tell us how many of that flower we'd need to bring for our final cake and if you wait until the end, like I did, to make them all--it's almost overwhelming! My instructor told us different numbers to make than what the book said, but it equaled something like 116 flowers or maybe that was flowers and leaves...I don't remember, but my point is: try to keep up with them if you can. I took a shoe box lined with a kitchen towel to each class to carry my flowers home in so pretty much anything will work but having the towel to line it helped me cushion my flowers for the one hour ride home in the car. Good luck, & let us know how it goes!

Steph

How many tips #1 and #104 tips do you have? In Lesson 3 you will use two #1s and three #104s. So buying additional ones of those will help you out.

Other than that there really isn't alot of extra things you need for C2. You get a break between it and C3 where you buy fondant.

As was said, practice. In class my students usually make around 5 of each flower to make sure that they have the techinques down. I always suggest since they have the icing already made and color to go home and make more of them. What you don't use on your Lesson 4 cake you can always save for future use.

Also when you make your color flow pieces I always suggest my students go home and make a second pair. First in case they break one removing it from the backing or in transport. Second because I think after you do one you feel more cofortable and they usually like the ones they do at home better.

I suggest using the disposable 9x13 pans that have a lid - leaves enough air circulating that they dry, and still keeps them dust free. The flower formers fit in them perfectly too.

thanks everyone for responding!!

quadcrew--i like that idea!

My tip is this:
make sure you use the same green for leaves each week. You save your work until the last class then add them to one cake. Then when you add your buttercream filler leaves use the same green again. Just a little experience talking.

I suggest buying tip#48 for the basketweave both sides are serrated so its easier than having to look at what sides to use.Hope this helps!

I start course 2 next week also! My instructor told me to bring a pizza box to store and carry the flowers in.

I'm going this weekend to get the extra tips etc. I thought I was done with BC and I am so bummed, I have to bring it again to the 1st class. LOL. Oh well. Can't wait to learn new flowers! Have fun!

It's funny how many different things people have recommended to carry your flowers in. I always recommend a regular size shirt gift box. The flower formers fit in it perfectly. You can leave the lid on and the flowers dry just fine. Definately get some extra of tip 104. Also for the last class, make sure you have something you can elevate your cake on. Most people usually have the wilton storage box, but anything that will support your cake will work. It's much easier to do basketweave at eye level.